用蛋白质印迹转移技术分析正常及硒性白内障大鼠晶状体及房水中蛋白质的性质

本文用蛋白质印迹转移技术分析了正常及硒性白内障大鼠晶状体及房水中蛋白质的性质。结果表明,晶状体中的脲溶性蛋白质可被抗α及抗γ晶体蛋白血清识别,提示α及γ晶体蛋白均为脲溶性蛋白质的主要成份。患白内障时房水中的蛋白质含量明显增加,且主要被抗γ血清识别,而被抗α血清识别的成份很少,表明在大鼠硒性白内障形成过程中,有较多低分子量蛋白质漏出到房水中,且其主要成份为γ晶体蛋白。此外,我们还发现正常及硒性白内障大鼠晶状体膜蛋白质与抗α及抗γ血清起反应的程度及分布有所不同,提示晶状体细胞膜与晶体蛋白之间存在着相互作用。     

晶状体生化的研究——Na_2~(75)SeO_2诱发大鼠白内障的同位素示踪研究

我们用Na~(75)_2SeO_3皮下注射诱发大鼠产生白内障后,观察~(75)Se在房水及晶状体中的分布。发现注射后4小时内,~(75)Se迅速进入眼内,产生白内障的大鼠晶状体中~(75)Se较多,而注射后未产生白内障的大鼠透明晶状体中~(75)Se进入很少。经三氯醋酸处理后,~(75)Se主要在沉淀部分,经巯基乙醇处理后,~(75)Se转移到上清液中,经Se-phadex G-200柱层析可见~(75)Se与α、β_H、β_L、γ晶体蛋白都结合。这提示~(75)Se可能是与晶体蛋白质中的半胱氨酸残基的巯基相连,从而使蛋白质交联起来,导致晶状体中高分子量蛋白质的形成,引起光线的散射,而表现为白内障。     

晶状体生化的研究——亚硒酸钠诱发大鼠白内障的研究

我们给出生后10日大鼠皮下注射亚硒酸钠,按隔日每公斤体重3.48mg(20μ moles)诱发大鼠产生白内障获得成功。我们也观察到此种白内障大鼠晶状体中可溶性蛋白质含量下降,经Sephadex G-200柱层析可见β_H、γ晶体蛋白降低,α晶体蛋白相对升高。10％聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳及等电聚焦电泳发现γ晶体蛋白改变明显,这些变化和我们先前报告的腹腔注射半乳糖诱发大鼠白内障的结果是一致的。     

亚硒酸钠诱导的晶状体蛋白质聚合作用

不仅在体内,而且在体外亚硒酸钠可引起晶状体蛋白质聚合。将亚硒酸钠加到pH7.4的晶状体蛋白质溶液中,在37℃保温30min后观察到蛋白质溶液变混浊,随时间的延长混浊程度加重并有沉淀形成。经SDS聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳发现,加硒保温后形成的不溶性蛋白质中有大量的高分子聚合物。当加入二硫苏糖醇后混浊的蛋白质溶液变清,其中的高分子聚合物也基本消失,我们还发现;在亚硒酸钠使晶状体蛋白质变混浊的同时,蛋白质巯基减少,而蛋白质结合的硒量增加,且二者之间有较固定的比例关系,即蛋白质上每增加一个硒原子,蛋白质巯基就减少4.26个。当用二硫苏糖醇还原后,68％的硒从蛋白质中释放出来。这些结果表明,亚硒酸钠可引起大鼠晶状体水溶性蛋白质聚合,其可能方式如下:4PSH+SeO_3~-→PSSP+PS-Se-SP+H_2O+2OH~-这可能是亚硒酸钠诱发白内障的主要原因。     

晶体蛋白与老年性白内障

晶状体的功能是将光线聚焦到视网膜上,产生视觉。晶状体干重的８０％～９０％是蛋白质,每种蛋白质的结构和它们彼此之间的相互作用是维持晶状体透明性的分子基础。一旦晶状体中的蛋白质结构受到破坏,则晶状体透明性丧失而成白内障。１．晶体蛋白概述晶体蛋白构成了晶状...     

三硝基甲苯对大鼠晶状体中可溶性蛋白质、巯基及二硫键含量的影响

我们采用三硝基甲苯（ＴＮＴ）与大鼠晶状体体外培养的方法,动态观察了晶状体中可溶性蛋白质、非蛋白质巯基、蛋白质巯基、蛋白质结合巯基及二硫键含量的变化,发现随着三硝基甲苯作用时间的延长,可溶性蛋白质、非蛋白质巯基及蛋白质巯基均减少,蛋白质结合巯基及二硫键交联的蛋白质含量增加,其中可溶性蛋白质、非蛋白质巯基及二硫键含量的变化皆达到了统计学上显著意义水平（Ｐ＜０．０５）。     

晶状体生化的研究 平阳霉素诱发大鼠白内障的研究

 本文报道间日经皮下注射平阳霉素(Pingyangmycin)(25μg/10g体重)于出生后四日之乳鼠可诱发白内障,其诱发率为84.6％。患白内障时晶状体中可溶性蛋白质含量明显降低。经Sephadex G-200柱层析可见βH,γ晶体蛋白降低,α晶体蛋白则相对升高。经10％聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳及等电聚焦电泳可见γ晶体蛋白改变明显,这些结果和我们用半乳糖及亚硒酸钠诱发白内障所得结果一致。     

晶状体生化的研究——亚硒酸钠诱发大鼠白内障晶状体中巯基、二硫键及维生素C的含量

我们测定了正常及亚硒酸钠诱发的白内障大鼠晶状体中非蛋白质巯基、蛋白质巯基、蛋白质结合巯基和维生素C的含量,发现随着白内障的进展非蛋白质巯基及蛋白质巯基均减少,蛋白质结合巯基在核混浊时增加,而在整个晶状体混浊时下降到与正常对照组相近,在白内障形成过程中二硫交联的蛋白质含量明显增加,而维生素C含量似乎无明显变化。     

三硝基甲苯对大鼠晶状体中溶性蛋白质,巯基及二硫键含量的影响

我们采用三磷基甲苯（ＴＮＴ）与大鼠晶状体体外培养的方法,动态观察了晶状中可溶性蛋白质、非蛋白质巯基、蛋白质结合巯及二硫键含量的变化,发现随着三硝基甲苯作用时间的延长,可溶性蛋白质、非蛋白质巯基及蛋白质巯基均减少,蛋白质结合巯基及二硫键交联的蛋白质含量增加,其中可溶性蛋白质、非蛋白质巯基及二硫键含量的变化皆达到了统计学上的显著意义水平（Ｐ＜０．０５）。     

大鼠βB2—晶体蛋白的克隆,高效表达及纯化

β－晶体蛋白是含量最高的一组晶状体结构蛋白。它的正常结构对维持晶状体的高折射系数和透明至关重要,而其结构的改变与白内障的形成密切相关。为了获得大量纯的βＢ２－晶体蛋白并用定点突变的方法研究其聚合的机制,建立了大鼠βＢ２－晶体蛋白的细菌表达系统及纯化方法。用ＲＴ－ＰＣＲ的方法克隆了β－晶体蛋白中含量最高的βＢ２－晶体蛋白的ｃＤＮＡ。用苯啶酮酸诱导ｒｅｃＡ启动子后,蛋白质在大肠杆菌中得到了高效表达。β     

Accumulation of the hydroxyl free radical markers meta-, ortho-tyrosine and DOPA in cataractous lenses is accompanied by a lower protein and phenylalanine content of the water-soluble phase

Post-translational modifications of lens proteins play a crucial role in the formation of cataract during ageing. The aim of our study was to analyze protein composition of the cataractous lenses by electrophoretic and high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) methods. Samples were obtained after extracapsular cataract surgery performed by phacoemulsification technique from cataract patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM CAT, n = 22) and cataract patients without diabetes (non-DM CAT, n = 20), while non-diabetic non-cataractous lenses obtained from cadaver eyes served as controls (CONTR, n = 17). Lens fragments were derived from the surgical medium by centrifugation. Samples were homogenized in a buffered medium containing protease inhibitor. Soluble and insoluble protein fractions were separated by centrifugation. The electrophoretic studies were performed according to Laemmli on equal amounts of proteins and were followed by silver intensification. Oxidized amino acid and Phe content of the samples were also analyzed by HPLC following acid hydrolysis of proteins. Our results showed that soluble proteins represented a significantly lower portion of the total protein content in cataractous lenses in comparison with the control group (CONTR, 71.25%; non-DM CAT, 32.00%; DM CAT, 33.15%; p < 0.05 vs CONTR for both). Among the proteins, the crystallin-like proteins with low-molecular weight can be found both in the soluble and insoluble fractions, and high-molecular weight aggregates were found mainly in the total homogenates. In our HPLC analysis, oxidatively modified derivatives of phenylalanine were detected in cataractous samples. We found higher levels of m-Tyr, o-Tyr and DOPA in the total homogenates of cataractous samples compared to the supernatants. In all three groups, the median Phe/protein ratio of the total homogenates was also higher than that of the supernatants (total homogenates vs supernatants, in the CONTR group 1102 vs 633 micromol/g, in the DM CAT group 1187 vs 382 micromol/g and in the non-DM CAT group 967 vs 252 micromol/g; p < 0.05 for all). In our study we found that oxidized amino acids accumulate in cataractous lenses, regardless of the origin of the cataract. The accumulation of the oxidized amino acids probably results from oxidation of Phe residues of the non-water soluble lens proteins. We found the presence of high-molecular weight protein aggregates in cataractous total homogenates, and a decrease of protein concentration in the water-soluble phase of cataractous lenses. The oxidation of lens proteins and the oxidative modification of Phe residues in key positions may lead to an altered interaction between protein and water molecules and thus contribute to lens opacification.     

Accumulation of the hydroxyl free radical markers meta-, ortho-tyrosine and DOPA in cataractous lenses is accompanied by a lower protein and phenylalanine content of the water-soluble phase

Post-translational modifications of lens proteins play a crucial role in the formation of cataract during ageing. The aim of our study was to analyze protein composition of the cataractous lenses by electrophoretic and high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) methods.

Samples were obtained after extracapsular cataract surgery performed by phacoemulsification technique from cataract patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM CAT, n = 22) and cataract patients without diabetes (non-DM CAT, n = 20), while non-diabetic non-cataractous lenses obtained from cadaver eyes served as controls (CONTR, n = 17). Lens fragments were derived from the surgical medium by centrifugation. Samples were homogenized in a buffered medium containing protease inhibitor. Soluble and insoluble protein fractions were separated by centrifugation. The electrophoretic studies were performed according to Laemmli on equal amounts of proteins and were followed by silver intensification. Oxidized amino acid and Phe content of the samples were also analyzed by HPLC following acid hydrolysis of proteins.

Our results showed that soluble proteins represented a significantly lower portion of the total protein content in cataractous lenses in comparison with the control group (CONTR, 71.25%; non-DM CAT, 32.00%; DM CAT, 33.15%; p < 0.05 vs CONTR for both). Among the proteins, the crystallin-like proteins with low-molecular weight can be found both in the soluble and insoluble fractions, and high-molecular weight aggregates were found mainly in the total homogenates. In our HPLC analysis, oxidatively modified derivatives of phenylalanine were detected in cataractous samples. We found higher levels of m-Tyr, o-Tyr and DOPA in the total homogenates of cataractous samples compared to the supernatants. In all three groups, the median Phe/protein ratio of the total homogenates was also higher than that of the supernatants (total homogenates vs supernatants, in the CONTR group 1102 vs 633 μmol/g, in the DM CAT group 1187 vs 382 μmol/g and in the non-DM CAT group 967 vs 252 μmol/g; p < 0.05 for all).

In our study we found that oxidized amino acids accumulate in cataractous lenses, regardless of the origin of the cataract. The accumulation of the oxidized amino acids probably results from oxidation of Phe residues of the non-water soluble lens proteins. We found the presence of high-molecular weight protein aggregates in cataractous total homogenates, and a decrease of protein concentration in the water-soluble phase of cataractous lenses. The oxidation of lens proteins and the oxidative modification of Phe residues in key positions may lead to an altered interaction between protein and water molecules and thus contribute to lens opacification.     

Crystallin distribution patterns in Litoria infrafrenata and Phyllomedusa sauvagei lenses

The eye lens remains transparent because of soluble lens proteins known as crystallins. For years γ-crystallins have been known as the main lens proteins in lower vertebrates such as fish and amphibians. The unique growth features of the lens render it an ideal structure to study ageing; few studies have examined such changes in anuran lenses. This study aimed to investigate protein distribution patterns in Litoria infrafrenata and Phyllomedusa sauvagei species. Lenses were fractionated into concentric layers by controlled dissolution. Water-soluble proteins were separated into high (HMW), middle (MMW) and low molecular weight (LMW) fractions by size-exclusion HPLC and constituents of each protein class revealed by 1DE and 2DE. Spots were selected from 2DE gels on the basis of known ranges of subunit molecular weights and pH ranges and were identified by MALDI-TOF/TOF MS following trypsin digestion. Comparable lens distribution patterns were found for each species studied. Common crystallins were detected in both species; the most prominent of these was γ-crystallin. Towards the lens centre, there was a decrease in α- and β-crystallin proportions and an increase in γ-crystallins. Subunits representing taxon-specific crystallins demonstrating strong sequence homology with ζ-crystallin/quinone oxidoreductase were found in both L. infrafrenata and P. sauvagei lenses. Further work is needed to determine which amphibians have taxon-specific crystallins, their evolutionary origins, and their function.     

Presbyopia and heat: changes associated with aging of the human lens suggest a functional role for the small heat shock protein, alpha-crystallin, in maintaining lens flexibility

Presbyopia, the inability to focus up close, affects everyone by age 50 and is the most common eye condition. It is thought to result from changes to the lens over time making it less flexible. We present evidence that presbyopia may be the result of age-related changes to the proteins of the lens fibre cells. Specifically, we show that there is a progressive decrease in the concentration of the chaperone, α-crystallin, in human lens nuclei with age, as it becomes incorporated into high molecular weight aggregates and insoluble protein. This is accompanied by a large increase in lens stiffness. Stiffness increases even more dramatically after middle age following the disappearance of free soluble α-crystallin from the centre of the lens. These alterations in α-crystallin and aggregated protein in human lenses can be reproduced simply by exposing intact pig lenses to elevated temperatures, for example, 50 °C. In this model system, the same protein changes are also associated with a progressive increase in lens stiffness. These data suggest a functional role for α-crystallin in the human lens acting as a small heat shock protein and helping to maintain lens flexibility. Presbyopia may be the result of a loss of α-crystallin coupled with progressive heat-induced denaturation of structural proteins in the lens during the first five decades of life.     

CRE-decoy oligonucleotide-inhibition of gene expression and tumor growth

The authors prepared water-soluble (WSF), urea-soluble (USF), alkali-soluble (ASF), sonicated (SF), sonicated insoluble (SIF) and membrane (MF) fractions of lens proteins from human senile and diabetic cataractous lenses and age-matched clear lenses. Levels of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) including carboxymethyl lysine (CML), a glycoxidation product, were determined by both non-competitive and competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Distribution of AGEs in the various protein fractions was ascertained by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting. An overall increase in the levels of AGEs in diabetic cataractous lenses as compared to senile cataractous lenses and clear lenses has been observed. ASF and SF , both of which originated from the urea-insoluble fraction, showed the highest levels of AGEs. However, no clear-cut differences in CML levels were seen among clear lenses and senile and diabetic cataractous lenses. AGEs were found to be distributed mostly in the high molecular aggregates in all the fractions. These data suggest that AGEs contribute to protein aggregation and subsequent insolubilization.     

Uptake of75Se in cataractous rat lens proteins

The purpose of the present study was to measure the pattern of uptake of⁷⁵Se into proteins in normal rat lenses and into the proteins of lenses with selenite-induced cataract. Ten-day-old suckling rats received a single injection of⁷⁵Se with or without a cataractous dose of cold carrier sodium selenite. Four days after injection, the proteins from excised lenses were counted for⁷⁵Se radioactivity and subjected to gel permeation chromatography, amino acid analyses, and mass spectrometry. All three soluble crystallin lens proteins took up⁷⁵Se in both normal and cataractous lenses. However, cataractous lenses did not take up⁷⁵Se into a soluble protein in which major quantities of⁷⁵Se were taken up in normal rats. Futhermore,⁷⁵Se in the gamma-crystallins was associated with an unusual acidic amino acid. It was concluded that selenium metabolism by lens proteins may be unusual compared to other soft tissues.     

Camel lens crystallins glycosylation and high molecular weight aggregate formation in the presence of ferrous ions and glucose

The incubation of camel lens cortex homogenate with 100 microM ferrous ions and 5.5 mM glucose under sterile conditions caused rapid protein aggregation, but little or no reaction was seen with either 100 microM ferrous ions or 5.5 mM glucose alone. The formation of glycosylated high molecular weight (HMW) protein aggregates was confirmed by light scattering studies, a decreased level of free -SH groups, incorporation of [14C]-glucose and elution of HMW protein aggregate just after the void volume of a Sephacryl S-1000 column. The bonding involved in the formation of these aggregates was found to be mainly disulfide in nature. Isoelectric focusing (IEF) in the presence and absence of reducing conditions indicated that gamma-crystallins may be involved in the formation of HMW protein aggregates. The modifications observed were found to mimic those seen in cataractous lenses.     

Epidermal fucosylation of cell surface glycoprotein

The formation of covalently linked, high molecular weight protein aggregates has been thought to play an important role in opacification of the human lens. Antisera were used in Western blot analysis to demonstrate the involvement of all major classes of lens proteins (alpha, beta and gamma crystallin; the major intrinsic membrane polypeptide) in covalent aggregation. Of these classes, aggregation of gamma and beta crystallins via intermolecular disulfide bonding and aggregation of the major intrinsic membrane polypeptide via intermolecular, non-disulfide bonding were more pronounced in cataractous as compared with normal lenses.     

α-Crystallin: molecular chaperone and protein surfactant

Bovine lens α-crystallin has recently been shown to function as a molecular chaperone by stabilizing proteins against heat denaturation (Horwitz, J. (1992) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 89, 10449–10453). An investigation, using a variety of physico-chemical methods, is presented into the mechanism of stabilization. α-Crystallin exhibits properties of a surfactant. Firstly, a plot of conductivity of α-crystallin versus concentration shows a distinct inflection in its profile, i.e., a critical micelle concentration (cmc), over a concentration range from 0.15 to 0.17 mM. Gel chromatographic and ¹H-NMR spectroscopic studies spanning the cmc indicate no change in the aggregated state of α-crystallin implying that a change in conformation of the aggregate occurs at the cmc. Secondly, spectrophotometric studies of the rate of heat-induced aggregation and precipitation of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), β_L- and γ-crystallin in the presence of α-crystallin and a variety of synthetic surfactants show that stabilization against precipitation results from hydrophobic interactions with α-crystallin and monomeric anionic surfactants. Per mole of subunit or monomer, α-crystallin is the most efficient at stabilization. α-Crystallin, however, does not preserve the activity of ADH after heating. After heat inactivation, gel permeation HPLC indicates that ADH and α-crystallin form a high molecular weight aggregate. Similar results are obtained following incubation of β_L- and γ-crystallin with α-crystallin. ¹H-NMR spectroscopy of mixtures of α- and β_L-crystallin, in their native states, reveals that the C-terminus of βB2-crystallin is involved in interaction with α-crystallin. In the case of γ- and α-crystallin mixtures, a specific interaction occurs between α-crystallin and the C-terminal region of γ_B-crystallin, an area which is known from the crystal structure to be relatively hydrophobic and to be involved in intermolecular interactions. The short, flexible C-terminal extensions of α-crystallin are not involved in specific interactions with these proteins. It is concluded that α-crystallin interacts with native proteins in a weak manner. Once a protein has become denatured, however, the soluble complex with α-crystallin cannot be readily dissociated. In the aging lens this finding may have relevance to the formation of high molecular weight crystallin aggregates.     

The Structure and Stability of the Disulfide-Linked γS-Crystallin Dimer Provide Insight into Oxidation Products Associated with Lens Cataract Formation

The reducing environment in the eye lens diminishes with age, leading to significant oxidative stress. Oxidation of lens crystallin proteins is the major contributor to their destabilization and deleterious aggregation that scatters visible light, obscures vision, and ultimately leads to cataract. However, the molecular basis for oxidation-induced aggregation is unknown. Using X-ray crystallography and small-angle X-ray scattering, we describe the structure of a disulfide-linked dimer of human γS-crystallin that was obtained via oxidation of C24. The γS-crystallin dimer is stable at glutathione concentrations comparable to those in aged and cataractous lenses. Moreover, dimerization of γS-crystallin significantly increases the protein’s propensity to form large insoluble aggregates owing to non-cooperative domain unfolding, as is observed in crystallin variants associated with early-onset cataract. These findings provide insight into how oxidative modification of crystallins contributes to cataract and imply that early-onset and age-related forms of the disease share comparable development pathways.